What proportion of Australian school students aged 12-17 years consume 5+ standard drinks on a single occasion?
In 2022-23, among Australian school students aged 12-17 years who had ever drunk alcohol, 81% had drunk 5+ standard drinks on a single occasion at least once in their life. More than three-quarters (77%) had done so in the past year, 46% had done so in the past month, and 30% in the last two weeks.
Source: Scully, M, Koh, I, Bain, E, Wakefield, M, & Durkin, S (2023). ASSAD 2022-23: Australian secondary school students' use of alcohol and other substances. Cancer Council Victoria, Australia.
Please note: Consuming 5+ standard drinks per day (or 11+ standard drinks per week) is considered to be “risky consumption” for adults in the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol. According to these guidelines the consumption of any alcohol by people under the age of 18 places them at risk of harm.